Some silliness about my home as Art:

Once upon a time, my daughter Sarah, was slated to be named Nora Noel. For some reason known only to my ex-wife she changed it at the last minute. The idea was that she didn't want her to have the initials NNÓB. "People will call her Knobs!" She said. So at the last minute she changed "our" mind and named her Sarah. It's debatable wether SÓB was a wiser choice. And no-one I know of ever accused my Ex of that malady.... Being wise that is... Bah-dump-tish!

Anyone who has looked closely at my Instagram Gallery can guess that Frederic Church has always been a big influence. He was one of my Ma's top 10. (Followed closely by Winslow Homer, Maxfield Parish and Norman Rockwell. (We debated endlessly wether Rockwell (who described himself as an Illustrator) should be included on this list as an Illustrator.) (Parish of course was quite obviously both without question.) 

I remember the first time Ma brought me to The Albany Institute Of History And Art and the first time I walked the narthex/hallway hung with what must be the largest collection of "Hudson River School" works. 

Needless to say My mother brought me to Olana several times as a kid. I was always impressed and awed. By the building and the "Viewshed." (Which is now obscured by Radio Antennas.) 

I also loved the fact that Church and his wife Isabel named their estate Olana after an ancient form of the name for "The Garden Of Eden."

In retrospect, based on what I have learned of my family history during the ensuing years Honora would have been a good choice instead of Nora. That would have made the initials HÓB instead. Of course my preference would have been for the ancient Irish spelling of Onnóra. Which would in turn result in OÓB. 

Oops! I won't even go there. Yeah, I know, you already did...

The story goes the that first Joyce legitimized himself by marrying "The Royal Princess Onnora Ó Brien" when he came to Ireland from England as a part of the Norman invasion. [Princess Onnóra Ó Brien of Thomond married Thomas dé Jorse (the first Joyce) in 1283.] 

I've also seen it spelled Onorah, Honora, and Honoria. It goes way way back in the Ó Brien clan.

My third Great Grandmother was named Honóra Flynn. Several of my distant cousins and Great Aunts from this era also carried the name. The translation for Honora or Onnóra would be "Honor" and/or "She Knows." 

I purchased this home with inheritance from my Ma. The more I think about this, my Ma, her influence on my life artistically and otherwise, this suits me. This suits me well. Honor was everything to my Mom and Dad. She watches over me still and "She knows."

Since I will obviously never have the chance again to name a child Onnóra, I have decided instead to follow suit and name my house. Some may have noticed a couple of weeks ago when I quietly changed my Instagram location to "Onnóra, Clarksville, New York."

It goes without saying that like Church my style of architecture is obviously my own. It may not be the Garden Of Eden but it's home! 

         Onnóra, Clarksville, New York.